Total of 95 significant and substantial violations, 12 unwarrantable failures found
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections in October 2024 at 15 mines in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming and issued 286 violations.
The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement because of poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries and illnesses; and other compliance concerns. Of the 286 violations MSHA identified during October 2024 impact inspections, 95 were evaluated by inspectors as significant and substantial and 12 had unwarrantable failure findings. The agency began conducting impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners.
Since 2023, MSHA’s impact inspections have identified 4,965 violations, including 1,380 significant and substantial and 99 unwarrantable failure findings. An S&S violation is one that is reasonably likely to cause a reasonably serious injury or illness. Violations designated as unwarrantable failures occur when an inspector finds aggravated conduct that constitutes more than ordinary negligence.
“Miners have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, which can only be achieved when safety and health is a core organizational value with commitments to identifying and eliminating hazards, devoting sufficient resources, ensuring transparent communication and encouraging active miner participation,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “The impact inspection at Atalco Gramercy LLC’s Gramercy Operation in October identified the continued existence of a troubling culture and repeated hazards that demonstrate a disregard for the safety and health of miners. Impact inspections and enhanced enforcement are valuable tools this administration has used to prioritize miners’ safety and health.
Atalco Gramercy LLC’s Gramercy Operation, an alumina facility in St. James County, Louisiana, was selected for impact inspection because of its enforcement and accident history, as well as several hazard complaints.
Gramercy Operation is one of two mines currently operating under a pattern of violations notice, which is one of MSHA’s toughest enforcement actions. MSHA issues these notices to mine operators who are chronic violators and demonstrate a disregard for the safety and health of miners. The POV notice was issued to Gramercy in July 2023, noting the mine’s pattern of S&S violations related to caustic spills and leaks putting miners at risk of injury.